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CONTENTS. 



Chapter. Page. 

I. Curing my Mother, when a child. 7 

II. My Father's gift. Tests. Prediction of the 
Cholera at Boston, and cures. 12 

III. My School days. Falling down in Trances. 
Writing in different Languages. 17 

IV. Tests of the Dying. Shut up in a Tomb. 20 

Y. Death of my Father, Mother and Sister, Spir- 
itual appariton of my Sister. 22 

VI. The Rochester Eappings. Investigating Spirit- 
ualism. Being Tortured. Developed as a Test 
Medium. My Husband a Spiritualist. 27 

VII. Death of Annie, predicted. Entranced for forty 
day3, and forty nights. Cured by the Spirits. 86 

VIII. A Clairvoyant Physician. Looking for Fraud. 
Trying to fool the Influence. 44 

IX. Taking on Diseases. Magnetized Medicines. 

Remarkable Cures,-metal poison, the lizard. 49 

X. Rappings in Church. Our New Home. More 
Cures. Death of my Husband. 59 

XI. Death of Willie. Eddie at Sea -falling from the 
Mast. 69 

XI T. The Spiritual Hearse and Hacks. Death of 
Eddie, predicted. 71 

XIII. Materialization, my experiences. 7(> 

XI V. Spiritualism— abridgment of a lecture given by 
William Taylor, through my organism. 78 




MRS, DR. JANE B. PACKER. 



* 

- • 



LIFE 



AND 



SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES, 

— OF — 

MRS. DR. JANE B. PACKER, 

Clairvoyant Physician, 

TAUNTON, MASS. 



TAUNTON, MASS. 
SWEET PUBLISHING COMPANY. 

1892. 



♦« €* 



COPYRIGHTED BY 
SWEET PUBLISHING COMPANY 

— 1S'.)2. — 



PREFACE. 



In presenting this book to the public, I desire to 
state that it is published at the earnest request of raj 
many friends and acquaintances, and of my hundreds 
of patients who are aware of my wonderful life. It 
is published in part, for the benefit and uplifting of 
humanity in general, and not only showing them what 
a medium has to contend with in persecutions bodily, 
as well as persecutions by those who sometimes speak 
ill of mediums, but hope its readers will gain some- 
thing from its pages that will assist them in showing re- 
spect to these instruments which God has given them 
and in helping them to seek the truth; and its con- 
tents I hope will help in proving and extending the 
Spiritual philosophy, hoping that those who have not 
looked into this great truth "Spirit Communion," will 
after reading this little volume, try and investigate this 
subject and test its claims, the truth which cannot be 
doubted, as has been acknowledged by the most intel- 
igent minds in the world. Others may believe and 
say as they like, but I know that Spirits do return un- 
der proper conditions and converse with us. 



In this work I give my spiritual experiences and in- 
cidents of my life from birth; my persecutions while a 
Test medium and Clairvoyant Physician for the past 
thirty-five years. I have not aspired to make this 
book great, but truthful in all its chapters, giving in 
its pages what actually transpired during my life. I 
know that many will criticise its pages with doubts 
as to its truthfulness, and to these I would say that it 
all can be easily proven when desired. My life in all 
probability is one of the most wonderful of any medi- 
um living, at least not surpassed if ever equaled in its 
peculiar incidents, and strange as it may seem to many 
outside of those interested in this subject, I would say 
that the experiences of my life as herein given, are 
"facts" which of themselves are the most extraordina- 
ry events ever presented in a volume in the life of a 
medium; and now after years of usefulness in adminis- 
tering to the sick and suffering, and relieving their dis- 
jses by the great gift that was bestowed upon me, 
I am ready when called by the Great Spirit above, to 
leave this world for my spirit home where my dear 
husband and children are waiting to greet me. 

Mrs. Dr. Jane P. Packer. 



INTRODUCTION. 

How do, brave! glad to see you! come to get 
scratchums about my medie ? that's good ! I Lave come 
from the hunting grounds in the spirit land to speak 
to the pale faces in earth life, — to introduce myself (to 
those who do not know me,) as the medie's spirit con- 
trol, as her doctor and adviser, and to open the talkum 
sheets with a short history of myself, and introduce 
the medie, who has been my instrument to doctor 
through for the past thirty-five years. It may seem 
strange to those pale faces not yet interested in this 
science — '■ spirit return," for an Indian to return to 
earth through her organism, and give this introduction 
to her remarkable life, as a medium, but as the pale- 
faces are thinking, watching and investigating for them- 
selves, into one of the Great Spirit's mysteries. — life, 
they will soon find the light which others have, and 
will soon be on their trail. I will say to those who do 
not know me, that I was an Indian Chief of the Mo- 
hawk tribe of red men, when in earth life, and my name 
"Joe.Pickalo," can be found back in the early history 
of this country; during my earth life, while wandering 
through the forests alone, having strayed from my tribe 



I was suddenly attacked by a large rattle snake, and 
was bitten on the arm, while killing it; I immediately 
looked around in the forest, for an herb to apply to the 
wound, but could not find what I was seeking after, and 
turned my steps towards finding my tribe, but my arm 
commenced to swell after a time, and I was overcome 
by the poison, and fell to the ground, and death re- 
leased me trom the body, and I was dead to this world 
but alive in spirit, which is the real life principal of 
nature; my body was afterwards found by my brothers; 
after I saw that I was a spirit, I learned my mission 
was to return and do good to the pale faces, by curing 
the sick, and in my roamings in the spirit world, (which 
is near and connected with your world,) I came in con- 
tact with this squaw when a little papoose, (child,) and 
I have followed her through life, intending to use her 
for the good of humanity when the proper time came; 
she was born a medie, and had a brain which could be 
used when very young, and was used by us then, and 
cured her mother. The masses of the people do not 
know of the good this squaw has done in the world, 
— curing the pale faces without wampum, (money) to 
all who came to her, and these talkum sheets give but a 
small idea of the wonderful cures she has made; she 
is a christian in her works, although not a professed 
one of your churches, but of the Great Spirit that per- 
meates all space; I will now help the medie place her 
life and experiences before you. Joe Dickalo. 



My Life, and Spiritual Experiences. 



CHAPTEE I. 

CURING MY MOTHER, WHEN A CHILD. 

In writing a history of my eventful life, it would be 
essential to take the reader back with me to my start- 
ing or beginning in life, as it were, in order to show 
that the "spiritual gift" was born with me from the 
first endowment of life, and to show that this gift was 
to be used in the future, for the benefit and good of hu- 
manity; also shown to exist to a certain degree in my 
parents' organism, and also through my own fami- 
ly in visions and predictions. Spirit gifts are born 
with life naturally, and not acquired afterwards as many 
people suppose; almost every family has some one a- 
mong them, possessing mediumistic gifts in certain di- 
rections, but have not the organization adapted for the 
spirit world to immediately act and communicate 
through, to give the truths of this great phenomena, 
and the world the benefits that may be derived from 
its use, — in solving the source, and close of this life — 



8 MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 

the mistery of death ; casting aside the doubts of the 
mourners; and turning faith into knowledge, crowned 
with facts, — but by being developed, the organization 
by its sensitiveness, can then respond to the call of the 
loved ones, and their message is received like the tel- 
egraph with two operators, — one to send, the other to 
receive. 

In my own case the gift was of unusual power, and 
my organism and brain when born was so sensitive, it 
was adapted perfectly to its almost immediate use, and 
at a very early age as will be seen, which is of very 
exceptionable occurrence. My parents were born in 
London, England; their names were Edward and Jo- 
anna Knight; my mother was the seventh daughter of 
her family, and possessed mediumistic gifts, but did 
not understand it at that time. In the year 1818, my 
parents moved to America and settled at St: Johns, N 
B. After living here for about a year, a son was born 
to them, in the year 1819, and was named John; and 
about two years later 1821, a daughter was born, and 
named Catherine; three years after, 1824, another 
daughter was born, and named Jane, which is myself; 
when I was about six months old, my parents moved 
to Portland, Me., where another daughter was born in 
the year 1827, and named Anna Maria, she being the 
the last and youngest child. 



MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 9 

My sisters like myself, were thus daughters of the 
seventh daughter, and while my sisters showed no unu- 
sual incident at birth, or mediumistic gifts, I was born 
with a veil which was tied at the throat in a bow-knot. 
In Portland is where my spiritual gift, and mediumis- 
tic r* owers were first forced to show themselves and my 
brain and speech used by some invisible power, at the 
age of only one year, the event being the giving of a 
prescription, and saving my mother's life; at the time, 
she was taken very sick, and attacked with inflamma- 
tory rheumatism; the physicians who attended, could 
do nothing for her, and gave her up, stating that she 
must be sent to the hospital, which might save her life 

One afternoon while the family were sitting in the 
room where I was lying in my cradle, and my mother 
in her sick bed, I was heard to speak in plain words— 
in a man's voice which said: "get pencil and paper, and 
I will cure her; no need of sending her to the hospital" 
referring to my mother. My folks were of course sur- 

I prised as well as alarmed, and did not know what to 
make of such remarks from a child without speech, but 
when the sentence was repeated by the invisible agency 
with more firmness, the paper and pencil were brought 
and a prescription taken down, given by the strange 
voice, and then it was taken to the druggists and com- 
pounded, and was given to my mother, perhaps out 



10 MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 

of curiosity, which in a short time cured her, and saved 
her life, and the visit to the hospital was given up. 

Neighbors and the physicians upon hearing of the 
strange occurrence before my mother had been given 
any medicine, came in, and many remarked that I had 
been born idiotic, and that I would always be crazy and 
intimated that I ought to be quietly put out of the way. 
I continued to act strangely and the voice gave instrc- 
tions occasionally during my mother's sickness, and af- 
ter I had prescribed for her, but when a few weeks had 
elapsed, and my mother arose from her sick bed entire- 
ly cured, there was great curiosity among the physi- 
cians to examine me, and I was taken from my cradle 
and examined by them, and also by phrenologists, but 
I was pronounced a perfectly healthy child, but they 
could not account for the strange use of my speech and 
my knowledge whereby I cured my mother of that 
which baffled the physicians' skill, but pronounced it 
a wonderful cure, and a puzzle to them— as it is to-day 
with those where superstition exists, and the law of in- 
vestigation is not used for the progress and develop- 
ment of the forces of nature and the invisible power be- 
hind it. The same invisible power or influence as I will 
call it, came several times afterwards, and cured cases 
of sickness in our family the s;une way —by prescrip- 
tion. I was looked upon by friends and neighbors of 



MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 11 

my parents as something they could not explain or ac- 
count for, unless it was the devil, but my folks thought 
it was certainly a beautiful devil to do the good he had 
done for them and saved a life. 



12 MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 



CHAPTER II 

My parents lived in Portland for about three years,, 
when they moved to Boston, Mass., where my fatl er 
went into business for himself, making cork heel boots 
which were worn in those days. My father was the 
only one of our family through whom the Spiritual Gift 
manifested bt sides myself; my father's gift was that of 
v'clairordiance" or "eeeiLg," and he could see spirits, 
but did not know what they were at that time, and 
were called ghosts; he could see and describe them 
perfectly, and seemed to converse with them and re- 
ceive communications, and especially on his way home 
from the shop at night, he would meet with many. 

My own powers seemed to grow more prominent as 
my age advanced and I began to give some remarkable 
tests when I was about three years of age. One eve- 
ning a Mr. Cumisky who lived down stairs in the same 
house with us, came up stairs to see my father and 
while conversing with him I suddenly asked him if he 



MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 13' 

was going in the water? he said no, not as he knew of 
I told him to be careful as I saw him in the water and 
he was drown ding, and that he would be drowned the 
next night in the river n^ar the bridge; this was not a 
very pleasant thought for him and he passed it off joke 
ingly it coming from a child, and thought no more a- 
bout it, and after a while went down stairs. 

The next night as my father was returning home 
from his shop quite late, a ghost as they c.tlled them 
appeared and glided along with him, and he soon rec- 
ognized Mr. Cumisky who had called the night before, 
who said, I was drowned to-night at the bridge, come 
with me and I will show you where my body is; when 
they came to the bridge which my father crossed on 
his way home, the ghost said I was drowned here Mr. 
Knight and after giving full particulars said, my body 
lies there, pointing to a place in the water near the 
bridge, your child was right, he then suddenly disolved 
and was gone as quick as he had come. 

My father immediately came home it being then a- 
bout twelve o'clock, and was met at the door by Mrs. 
Cumisky who said, have you seen Mr. Cumisky, Mr. 
Kuigb f ? My father said yes, but — he then fainted 
Miid fell to the floor and my folks knew that something 
had happened; he was carried up stairs and after com- 
ing too, he informed Mrs. Cumisky of the affair, which 



11 MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 

convinced her that her husband was dead. The next 
morning my father and several neighbors went down to 
the river and found the body which lay near the bridge 
in the water ^here the ghost or spirit had pointed. 

Another occasion of a ghost appearing and con vers 
iDg with my father was while watching in the cemetary 
In those days it was the custom to choose three men 
to watch at the graves of the dead to prevent stealing 
of the bodies; one night my father was appointed with 
two others to watch at the grave of a gentleman who 
had just died, and on the first night while watching, 
the spirit of the gentleman suddenly appeared before 
them and thanked them for their kindness, and said 
his body would be of no use to the doctors after three 
nights as the ground sweat would reach it; the spirit 
appeared at intervals, and during the night the doc- 
tors came to secure the body when the spirit again ap- 
peared and frightened them from the grounds, and for 
a time body stealing was given up by the doctors. 
The above two instances shows that my father had the 
gift of seeing spirits, and at times receive their mes- 
sages, but not knowing their time character tiny were 
called ghosts. 

During my life as a child from three years of age, I 
gave many wonderful tests similar to that of Mr. Cum- 
isky's; I would keep track of my father's business 



MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. i5 

when he was out of the city, without leaving the house 
I would tell my mother where he was, who he was talk- 
ing to, when he had finished his business and started 
for home, and when he would arrive. I would look af- 
ter his shop and upon his return, would tell him what 
his help had been doing while he was away, and he 
would take me on his knee and ask me to tell him all 
about it. On one occasion I told him of one of the 
men who had stolen some money from the drawer, the 
amount taken, and described the man ; when my fath- 
er went down to the shop the next morning upon ques- 
tioning the party he owned up to it, and discharged. 

When I was about five years of age, I predicted the 
great cholera epidemic that visited Bostou about 1830 
I predicted it a year in advance, and that hundreds of 
people would die, and told my mother that hundreds 
I would cure by a prescription which would be given 
through my organism, and for her to be prepared to 
visit the sick with this medicine which would cure them 
when the disease came, the prescription was given and 
my mother made the medicine and was out looking af- 
ter the sick and instructing the nurses, night and day, 
and she did not lose a case during the time the disease 
lasted, but hundreds of cases were lost by the physi- 
cians. Was a child of this age capable and skillful e- 
noudi without education, to handle such a disease as 



16 Mt' LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 

this ? Was there not an intelligence of greater power 
working through this child's brain to handle this dis- 
ease so successfully, and even to foretell its coming ? 
There is no other reason for such knowledge but an in- 
telligence working beyond the child; 

My predictions proved so true that I gave at various 
times, and my mother was so successful with the sick, 
that I was called upon by a great many people to tell 
them something of interest; among my callers was an 
elderly gentleman then known as "Old Constable Reed" 
of Boston, (whom many will remember) and taking me 
on his knee, would ask me to tell him where he could 
find prisoners he was looking after; he would give me 
candy and pennies for the information, and would then 
take me in his carriage for a ride and ask me to direct 
him to the streets and buildings where his prisoners 
were hiding, he would then come with policemen and 
arrest them. I informed my mother about her folks 
who lived in England years ago, and who had died be- 
fore I was born ; I would give their full names, de- 
scribe them perfectly, give the place where each were 
born, and give the names of the parties who took care 
of my mother when a child, after her parents died. I 
would tell my mother when she would have company, 
several days in advance, and give the names of those 
who were coming. 



MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 17 



CHAPTER III. 

MY SCHOOL DAYS. 

My gift progressed in this way until I was about sev- 
en years old, when I was sent to school, but I could 
not seem to learn anything by studying my books, I 
would know my lessons without study; it seemed to 
be repeated to me or spoken in my ears, sounding sim- 
ilar to the present telephone, only not so distinct. I 
would write compositions upon any subject given, and 
would write in three different languages,, viz: French, 
German, and Spanish, which, puzzled the teacher to 
account for, and the people who had heard of my pe- 
culiar ari ties. My teacher would punish me and box 
my ears because I repeated my lessons without seem- 
ing to study them, and for my strange conduct, which 
I could not help; upon gaining the head of my class, 
I would be sent back to the foot again, much to the 
surprise of the other scholars; I was far in advance of 
them or the teacher, and would tell some of them their 



18 MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 



lessons and to spell correctly. When writing compo 
sitions several times, the influence that was at work 
through me would call the teacher a fool for using me 
so; I told her I heard voices which gave me my lesson 
without studying, to which she would tell me to stop 
such talk and attend to my books. 

I would fall on the floor in school at times in what 
they called fits, — but was simply trances which are so 
common at the present day, and a large majority of the 
cases the subjects are pronounced as dead, because no 
trace of life is visable, as in my own case, which will 
be found further on ; I would also be taken in these 
tiances sometimes on the str( et when going home from 
school, and would be taken home and would lay in 
them from two to three days, and sometimes even a 
week; after coming out of them I seemed real bright 
and cheerful, and would remember everything as if 
nolhing Lad happened to me; while in this state I left 
my body aparently, in spirit, and would tell my par- 
ents after coming out of the tiances, the visit I Lad 
made to some place, and what I had seen and heard, 
which invaribly proved correct, upon investigating the 
affair and circumstances at the time of my entrancement 

At school my teacher became so severe with me, I 
complained to my parents and my fatlier Lad an inter- 
view with her, after which sLe treated me somewhat 






MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES, 19 

better; she suggested to my father that I ought to be 
examined by a physician and a phrenologist, and see 
what the trouble was with my head, and to pacify her 
he said she could do so if she desired to; one day a 
physician was called into the school, and I was taken 
out and obliged to go through another examination, 
and then again by a phrenologist, but they could find 
nothing the matter with my head, but they said I was 
a queer subject and a peculiar child; I was made to 
carry heavy boxes on my head, and many very amus 
iug methods used to help their explanation as to the 
cause of my peculiararities. 

One day when the teacher was about to punish me 
for something I did which displeased her, I fell into 
one of my fits, (trances,) and upon coming out of it af- 
ter a time I told her that her father was taken very sick 
giving his full name and where he lived out of the city 
and that he could not get well again, and would die; I 
giving the day and time he would pass away, and that 
she would receive word the next day to come home; 
this vexed her so, that she boxed my ears and sent me 
home ; the next day my words were proven to her, as 
she received a letter of her father's sickness, and ask- 
ing her to come home at once, and looking at me in 
surprise, she dismissed the scholars and went home. 
When she returned, she called on my parents, and ac- 



20 MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 

knowledged it all to be true, and that her father died 
on the day and time I had informed her; my father 
said: where did she get it ? she said I don't know, 
but I am afraid of her and don't want her round; my 
father then took me from school, and I helped my 
mother at home. 



CHAPTEB IV. 

TESTS OF THE DYING. SHUT UP IN A TOMB. 

As I grew older, more and startling were the mani- 
festations through my organism ; I would tell of peo- 
ple who were about to pass away, — giving their names 
and would cry for them as I saw them dying; I would 
tell immediately upon their death, no matter what the 
distance was, it made no difference in my predictions 
which were found perfectly true upon inquiry. 

I would sometimes run away from home and attend 
the funerals of many that had died, and at a distance of 
several miles, and would stay away sometimes for two 
or three days attending the funerals and staying with 
some of the people in the vicinity at night; my parents 
would have to procure the bell man to find me, which 
was the custom in those days when anyone was lost. 



MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 21 

I was shut up one night in a tomb all alone with the 
dead ; I attended a funeral one afternoon and followed 
the carriages to the tomb, and during the services here, 
I passed inside of the tomb unnoticed, and wandered 
about among the coffins lifting up the lids and looking 
at the people as I called them; I came to a coffin con- 
taining the body of a little negro boy, who was known 
as Little Jimmy Cutten, who had died several weeks 
previous ; I raised up the lid, and put my hand on the 
little negro's face, but as I looked at him the whites of 
his eyes rather frightened me, and I dropped the lid 
and started for the door to run out, but I found it clo- 
sed, I had been shut in; the people had all gone away, 
and T was alone with the dead; I then began to cry, 
but was told by the influences I would be let out in the 
morning, so I laid down on some boards and went to 
sleep. In the morning I heard someone coming up 
the wa^k towards the tomb, and I began to scream and 
cry, and immediately the door was unlocked and open- 
ed, and it proved to be the sexton who had charge of 
the burying grounds, who was surprised to find a little 
girl locked in there; I told him how I got shut in, and 
then immediately started for home as fast as I could 
run, and upon my arrival my parents said they had the 
bell man out to find me; I told them of my visit to the 



22 MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 

tomb and being shut in, and they said it would be the 
last time I should go away alone, and after this affair 
I was watched more closely so that I could not run a- 
way. My brother John left home about this time to 
work on a farm for Mr. John B. Chace, in Phelham, 
N. H., and never came home again, and never was 
heard from, until the influences informed me he went 
West, where he was killed in a railroad accident, 
which proved to be so, a short time afterwards 



CHAPTEE V. 

DEATH OF MY FATHER, MOTHER, AND SISTER. 

"We lived in Boston for about eleven years. When 
I was about fourteen years of age, my father died of 
consumption, at the age of fifty-two years, leaving four 
of us in the family. After living here for a short time, 
we moved to New York City, where my mother helped 
support us by dress-making; my sister Catherine open- 
ed a millinery store and took my other sister Anna 
Maria, in to work for her, while I helped my mother 
with the house-work. My peculiarities, as they were 
called, continued with me until I reached my fifteenth 
year, when they suddenly left me, and I was not what 
I had been, as to my trances, predictions, and tests. 



MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 23 

My mother s health gradually failed, and she predic- 
ted her own death, and on July 5th, 1 843, she passed 
away, of dropsy, at the age of fifty-two years. After 
my mother's death, I looked around for something to 
do to support myself, and after a while, decided to go 
to Rairaton, N. J., to work in a screw factory, leaving 
my two sisters in New York, engaged in their millin- 
ery business ; I worked in the screw factory for about 
a year, when I was married to Mr. James B. Packer, 
of that place, and went to house-keeping, taking two 
young lady boarders. Some little time after this I re- 
ceived a letter from my sister Catherine, stating that 
her health was breaking down, and asking me if she 
and sister could come and board with me; I wrote her 
they could come as soon as they desired to; about a 
week before my sisters came to live with me, we were 
awakened one night by hearing screams, and pounding 
on the floor, which came from the room of our young 
lady boarders up stairs, and calling for Mr. Packer to 
come with a light at once; my husband dressed, and 
taking a light ascended the stairs to their room, when 
they informed him that a lady had appeared in their 
room, wearing a shally-delane green dress with little 
pink flowers on it, a lambs- wool shawl with red and 
white border, and a bonnet of sprinkled green straw, 
trimed with green ribbon, and seemed to be sitting on 



24 MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 

a trunk which she had brought with her; Mr. Packer 
laughed, and told them that they must have been 
dreaming, which worked strangely upon their imagina- 
tion, and told them to go to sleep as there was nothing 
to harm them; my husband returned down stairs, and 
in a short time the screams were repeated, with knock- 
ing on the floor again and calling for Mr, Packer again 
to come up stairs; my husband once more dressed and 
went up to their room, and the young ladies were so 
terribly frightened, they could not sleep there, and a 
bed was made up for them on the parlor floor where 
they remained several nights; these young ladies were 
gifted with clairvoyant sight, but it was not understood 
by them at that time. In a few days after this occur- 
rence, I saw the same apparition appear in the parlor, 
sitting on the trunk as she had done upstairs; she ap- 
peared so natural, I at first spoke to her and asked her 
how she got into the house without my seeing her ? 
when all at once the form vanished as quickly as it had 
appeared, 

About a week after this, I received a letter from 
my sister, stating they were coming and would be with 
us in a few days; when they arrived, I noticed that my 
oldest sister Catherine was in very poor health, and al- 
so that her shawl, dress, bonnet and trunk* were the 

* The trunk I have now in my possession, which is over fifty years ohl. 



1 MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 25 

same as those in the apparition ; our young lady board- 
ers were in the room at the time, and one of them came 
to me and said: Oh! Mrs. Packer, that is the lady we 
saw in our room ; I told them both to say nothing a- 
bout it, as I felt that it was a warning of her death. 

My sister continued to fail, and in twelve weeks from 
the time of her arrival February 11th, 1845, she died 
of consumption, at the age of twenty- seven years. 
While she laid on her sick bed the day before her 
death, she asked my husband if he would assist her up- 
stairs, as her mother (spirit) had just come in and 
gone up their; the poor girl was told she had lost the 
use of her feet and could not walk, but she would be 
carried up stairs; well! then never mind, she said 
please open the door and let mother and the rest come 
in here, as she, and father, and brother, and all my 
dear friends are up stairs waiting for me; and is this 
death ? how beautiful! The next day I spoke to her 
and she said: please do not speak to me now Jane, I 
am so busy in the other world. Tn the afternoon she 
sang her favorite hymn: "Dearest Sister Mild and 
Gentle" and then looking up tome she said: Jane! 
you are all that this hymn says, you are so good and 
kind. A short time after, my husband spoke to her, 
and she said: do not call me back James, this is death 
I shall soon be with them; why ! does my body lie 



26 MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 

here yet? how strange! well! I do not care for that 
now, as I have another body, and she had passed out 
to her spirit home ; we had not heard of Modern Spir- 
itualism up to this time, but my sister's dying words, 
gave us a knowledge as to our future existence, — resur- 
rected through what is called death, with a Spiritual 
body, and that future use for a Material body, was 
unnecessary; the curious apparition of my sister, be- 
forehand, was a warning of her approaching death, and 
was a Spiritual manifestation under Material conditions 
in connection with her death, between the Material and 
Spiritual bodies, which we did not understand at that 
time. 






MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 27 



CHAPTER VI. 

INVESTIGATING SPIRITUALISM. DEVELOPED AS A TEST 
MEDIUM. MY HUSBAND A SPIRITUALIST. 

We lived in Eairaton for a while, after my sister's 
death, and then moved to New York City, where we 
lived for nearly a year and then my husband's moth- 
er's health failing, and being quite feeble, w^ returned 
to Eairaton and moved upstairs in her house. In a- 
bout two months after our return, February 23rd, 1846 
my oldest son "William was born. At the time of the 
Eochester rappings, 1848, my husband's father Mr. 
William Packer came home one evening from class meet 
ing at church, and said that the dead had returned, and 
were rapping down at Eochester and it is the talk of 
the town ; he spoke of it in such a frightful way at first, 
that it rather startled me, and I went down stairs to 
stay that night and to hear about the affair; I asked 



28 MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 

Mr. Packer if they would get down to New Jersey ? 
and he said: yes ! and will rap you out of house and 
home; his wife said: what do you want to tell such 
foolishness for William ? he replied, that it was so, and 
it had created quite an excitement; the rappings at 
Rochester had indeed excited the people, and some of 
the most intelligent minds, who looked for knowledge 
as to their future or Spiritual existence, investigated 
the rappings, which occured in the presence of the 
Fox sisters, (who were mediums,) at their home, and 
were satisfied of the reality of Spirit communion, and 
thus God's ministering angels, found in these children, 
leaders of the way in bringing light and joy to the 
world, and which is known to-day as Modern Spirit- 
ualism. 

My youngest son Edward, was born April 11th, 1849 
We lived in this place for about two years, when we 
moved to Taunton, Mass., where my husband was call- 
ed to set up and take charge of machinery, at the old 
screw factory on Court street; we lived on School street 
for about three years, when we moved to the Weir, in- 
to the stone cottage on Plain street and after living on 
this street for about. a year, we moved to Weir street, 
in Judge Sanford's house, opposite Forrest street; from 
this time niv mediumestic gifts were brought out in 
their greatest power, through the investigate! of Spir- 



MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 29 

itualism, which was being agitated at that time in this 
town as well as throughout the country; while investi- 
gating the phenomena with my husband and friends, 
I was developed as a Test medium; I was at this time 
about 27 years of age; my control or guide claimed to 
be an Indian brave by the name of "Charlie," and I 
held both private and public seances for my husband 
and friends, and all who desired, to investigate the 
phenomena and its cause for themselves; the Bible in 
speaking of the past history of Spiritualism, says: "try 
the spirits and see if they be of God or not;" we inves- 
tigated, sought for truth, tried the spirits, and we 
found — not that the spirits (our loved ones) were of 
the devil, as people expressed themselves, — but of God 
During the investigation I was obliged to go through 
several severe ordeals, put upon me by those testing 
the phenomena, to see if it was of physical or natural 
origin, and get the truth of the matter; in my trances I 
was unconscious, so I could not sense or feel the tort- 
ures they applied to me, thus proving to them there 
was a law and power beyond me, that had possession 
of my entire organism; I was blind-folded hundreds of 
times to satisfy them that my sight made no difference 
in giving names of parties in other rooms in the house 
and all strangers to me and the doors closed ; I then 
went through a sealing process of my eyes, the lids be- 



30 MY LIFE AND SPTPITTJAL EXPERIENCES. 

ing covered and sealed down with red sealing-wax, cov- 
ering ray eyes completely; it made me smile sometimes 
before T had become entranced, to see the methods they 
were to resort to, to test me while I knew I had noth- 
ing to do with what transpired afterwards; matches 
were the next test they put me to, lighting and hold- 
ing them close to my nose while the brimstone was 
burning, to see if I flinched from the terrible sensation; 
pins were next brought into use, and stuck into my 
flesh, and under my finger-nails without the least effect 
whatever; this was all finally abandoned, and they 
were satisfied that T had no sensation, and was entire- 
ly unconscious during the speaking, tests that were 
given, and messages that were received for friends 
present; I would continue to give the tests when my 
eyes were covered, giving names of people present and 
T had no knowledge of their presence in the house; in 
many cases, wrong names were given back in contra- 
diction, but my influence held to his statements, and 
the parties acknowledged he was correct. 

I would find stolen property and lost articles; I was 
taken in hacks blindfolded, at night to places and lo- 
calities which I did not know of, being almost a strang- 
er in the town, and would tell where I was, the streets 
we were travelling, and other incidents on the way, 
but never was I found incorrect in my statements; my 



MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 31 

life as a Test medium has been phenomenal, and my 
tests and prophesies have always been found truthful 
and convincing, as all who have investigated them have 
found, and even the most skeptical have acknowledged 
the facts. About the time of our investigating this 
subject, my husband's mother passed away and his fa- 
ther came and lived with us for some time, and then re- 
turned to Eairaton; my husband left the screw works, 
and opened a harness shop on Second street. 

We attended the Methodist church at the Weir, my 
husband being a rigid believer in that doctrine, yet he 
said he was always looking for knowledge, and willing 
to accept truth wherever he found it, and was willing 
to thoroughly investigate this phenomena before con- 
demning it; he was attending services one Sunday af- 
ternoon, with a friend Mr. F, at the Weir, who was al- 
so investigating with him, and the pastor Rev. Mr. C. 
during his sermon, brought up the subject of infidels 
in religion, or those who were investigating Spiritual- 
ism, the work of the devil, and remarked: "I thank 
God that we have two in the audience, and I hope we 
can convert them" — refering to my husband and his 
friend, who both arose and left the church and never 
attended services there afterwards. My husband after 
this affair, gave his whole attention religiously, to his 
investigation; he studied the phenomena carefully, as 



32 MY LIFE AND SPIEITUAL EXPERIENCES. 

he was a very skeptical person, and went cautiously at 
such things to find the cause; he tested in every way, 
and spent several hundred dollars to get at the truth 
neighbors who were unwilling to join us in our endeav- 
ors, pronounced it foolishness, and interfered some with 
our meetings but we continued them without molesting 
anybody and after a while, we heard no more in regard 
to the matter. 

I was sent once to find a set of furs and a robe 
which had been stolen from a well known party in this 
city, Mr. D. which the influence found; the party was 
somewhat surprised where the constable was told to 
look for them, and were well satisfied and pleased with 
finding the articles so easily; the party is living to ver- 
ify this test. My husband was given a test and a state- 
ment by a spirit who had died in the state of New Jer- 
sey, since we came from there, whom neither of us 
knew, giving name, place of residence, and other im- 
portant matters, and to test its truth personally, my 
husband started the next day for the place where the 
spirit had claimed he died; he was gone several days, 
and upon his return, he informed me it was perfectly 
satisfactory; he had found the relatives of the spirit, 
and everything was correctly given, and they were 
pleased to receive the message; my husband then said: 
mother! 1 will doubt you no more, you are what you 



MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 33 

purport to be, — an instrument for the Spirit World to 
be in communion with this World, and Spiritualism is 
indeed true. 

This was the last and final test with the exception of 
one, that convinced him of its truthfulness and its real- 
ity; on this occasion, my Indian control "Charlie" in- 
formed my husband one evening, as a convincing test, 
to meet him in Providence, E. L, at the residence of 
Mrs. R, a well known and reliable medium, and he 
would be there to meet him, and prove to his satisfac 
tion he was the same spirit, by an interview with him 
through this medium, an entire stranger to him; he 
said he would go the next day, and conversation was 
agreed upon which would be discussed there. The 
next morning my husband started for Providence, 
which he said was his last investigation, as he was satis- 
fied himself of the reliability of the phenomena, and of 
myself. Upon arriving in Providence he went directly 
to Mrs. R's residence, and asking for a sitting, was ush- 
ered into the parlor; Mrs. E upon being entranced, 
was controlled immediately by an Indian, with the 
words: "and I am here to meet you my friend," giving 
his name as "Charlie," as we had known him through 
me, and stating that at his house in Taunton, was where 
they had arranged this meeting as a test; the inter- 
view was perfectly satisfactory to my husband, and he 



34 MY LITE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES, 

came home highly pleased with the test, and said he 
was done investigating; he was a Methodist relying on 
faith, but he was now a Spiritualist relying on knowl- 
edge for a fact, which every one would be if they look- 
ed into, and use their reason, before condemning it. 

My husband and friends were at last convinced and 
satisfied that this phenomena was not produced by 
myself, as I had no object in so doing, and they knew 
I was a very domestic woman and above deceiving 
them, or myself, on such a divine subject, and they 
thought more of it, by its coming to me so unexpect- 
edly ; this was simply my old gifts suddenly broken 
forth again by being developed, after lying dormant 
for about ten years. I was a Test medium for about 
five years, and my tests of spirits, have convinced hun- 
dreds of people of the reality of life beyond the grave. 

While living here, my daughter Annie was born, on 
August 12th, 1854. About six months after this, I 
was taken very sick, and one day while I was asleep, 
a gentleman called at the door giving his name as Dr. 
R of No. Easton, Mass., and said the spirits had sent 
him to cure me, and upon my husband inviting him in- 
to the house he said: I enquired at the depot upon my 
arrival here, where Mrs. Packer lived, and was told 
by the party he thought she had died about two or 
thr< e weeks ago; I told him she was not dead but 



MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 35 

very sick, and I come to cure her; her husband is a 
harness maker, I see it on a sign over a shop door, I 
can find her,— and I am here. He was a great healer, 
and raised me from my bed of sickness and entirely 
cured me, and would accept no fee for his services; he 
also cured several other people afterwards at the Weir, 
including a child, which was almost dead, and saved 
its life, and he is living to prove the cure, and also his 
friends. A short time after this, we received word of 
the death of my husband's father, Mr. William Packer, 
and we went to Rairaton to attend the funeral. 



36 MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 



CHAPTEK VII. 

DEATH OF ANNIE, -PREDICTED. ENTRANCED FOR FORTY 
DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS. CURED BY THE SPIRITS. 

After living on Weir street for about two years, we 
moved into Mr. James Briggs' house on Second street 
where my husband carried on his business for twenty- 
two years. In this house is where I was entranced for 
forty days and forty nights. As my daughter Annie 
grew older, she seemed to show signs of mediumestic 
gifts, and when she was about two and one-half years 
old, she had wonderful visions, and would see and de- 
scribe spirits perfectly; when playing with other chil- 
dren, she would preach to them as she called it, about 
God and about being good; she was called "Petty" by 
the children, and they thought everything of her as she 
was so smart, and good to them, and many people 
will remember her, and every-one loved her she was so 
good and spiritual. On one occasion she said to me: 
mamma ! I saw Jesus, and he said: "suffer little chil- 
dren to come to me;" our family and friends were sur- 
prised at the time, to hear snch language from a child 



MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 37 

so young, — not quite three years old. 

When three years of age, she predicted her own 
death, two months in advance. I was making her some 
new clothes, and was at work on them one day, the lat- 
ter part of August, when she came to me, and looking 
up to me she said: mamma ! please not make me any- 
thing more, as T shall not wear them, and am going to 
heaven on Wednesday the second day of November, 
and will take a ride in the burying- ground; I was sur- 
prised, it come so sudden upon me. and I said: no ! T 
guess not Annie; and yet I was impressed that.it 
would be so; she said she would not live to wear them 
but I worked on them leisurely as if I took no notice of 
it. Her prediction proved true to the day; she was 
taken sick with membrain croup, the last week in Octo- 
ber, and the physician, Dr. N, could not relieve her, 
and the influence could give us no hope, and we saw 
we could do nothing to save her, and she died as she 
predicted, the second day of November, 1857. 

After the death of my daughter, the loss seemed to 
affect my health, and I began to fail, and in about five 
months, T was taken with a sudden and violent sickness 
I was attended by two of the best physicians here at 
that time, Dr. N, and Dr. D; both pronounced my 
disease as consumption; I was raising blood in large 
quantities, and had lost the use of my right arm and 



38 MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 

hand; both physicians said they could do nothing for 
mo, as the disease had gone too far, but they could 
keep me comfortable, but I could not live two months, 
but the spirits thought different, and brought me back 
to health and strength, and I have lived to see bofch of 
these physicians laid away, and pass to spirit life and 
I am in good health at the age of sixty- nine years. 

One morning a few days after the physicians had 
consulted to-gether on my sickness, my husband spoke 
to me, and noticed I made no reply, neither could he 
awake me, or see that I breathed, and he supposed I 
was dead; he sent at once for Br. N, who pronounced 
me dead, and preparations were made for my funeral; 
in the meantime my husband had gone to a medium to 
consult with the spirits in regard to my case, and was 
told I was not dead, but in a deep trance, and I would 
be brought out of it all right and in my former good 
health. My husband came home, and told the family 
and our nearest friends what the influence had said, 
and the funeral services were postponed. The next 
day Dr. N called in and he was told what was said by 
the spirits, of the case; the Dr. immediately made a- 
n other examination, and found a bright streak on my 
back, following the spine to the base of the brain, and 
said: there is some life here yet; the Dr. then said: I 
have been investigating Spiritualism some myself with 



MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 



39 



another party, and he would like to test this case him- 
self; his principal phase at this time, was the rappings 
"by alphabet, starting at the beginning as he termed it 
he said he would procure a slate, and see if they could 
get any message; upon his return, they retired to a 
darkened room by them -selves and sat down to a table 
with the slate; after awhile, the raps began to come up- 
on the slate, and after the correct letters were found, 
they were written down, and in a short time the com- 
munication was given — the rappings had ceased; the 
doctor then separated the letters into words, and after 
reading it said: see what we have received Mr. Packer 
perhaps they have taken her as they say. My hus- 
band then read the message, which was from his fath- 
er Mr. William Packer, and read as follows: "James, 
my son ! your wife is not dead, but lays in a trance, 
and no one can bring her- out but us; keep her warm, 
and comfortable, and we will bring her out all right; 
do not fear ! we are fitting her for a great work; your 
father, William." The message was accepted by them 
and they waited results; the doctor said he would call 
every day to examine me, and see what changes there 
would be. 

I laid in this trance state, from that time, for forty 
days and forty nights, — a fact which can be proven ; 
I was examined every day by the doctor, but showed 



40 MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 

no signs of life, except the small bright streak on my 
back, and after a time, that began to disappear, when 
he began to lose all hopes. After I had laid for this 
length of time, the doctor gave me up as on his last ex- 
amination, he said their was not a particle of life in my 
body, but how the body was preserved so, he could 
not account for; my ears and hands had turned, and 
he said I was dead as he could find nothing what- ever, 
to prove otherwise, and Dr. D upon being called, said 
the same. Again arrangements were made for my fu 
neral, but my husband having so much confidence in 
his spirit friends and the control, that he had services 
arranged with burial at the convenience of the family. 
While in this state, it seemed similar to a dream at 
first, and then I realized I was out of and away from 
my body, yet connected to it, which brobably is why 
part of the life or spiritual element remained with the 
body, which preserved it; while in this condition, I 
saw that heaven was not so far off as many people be 
lieve, and I saw, and was with my spirit friends, who 
informed me my work was not finished in this world 
yet; this is my experience while partially away from 
my body, and if this is death, it is certainly beautiful ; 
fill I saw in my visit I will call it, to the spiritual realm 
I could not remember entirely at the present time to re- 
late, it was strange yet beautiful. 



MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 41 

The next day after the doctors had given me up, the 
trance took another form ; I was drawn to my body as 
if by magnetic force, and I began to have a queer sen- 
sation upon entering my body again, and then came 
the feeling as if in a dream, and somewhat bewildered; 
J laid in this state until the next morning, when I be 
came partly conscious, though my head was dizzy, but 
I could not move a muscle, not even my eyes; my 
brain slowly grew clearer, and then sensed being lifted 
and laid down again; in a short time I heard murmur- 
ing as of people talking, and then became more con- 
scious of my surroundings, but could not move or 
sppak, and I then realized that my funeral services were 
being held; what my thoughts were, no one can im- 
magine as I laid there and listened to my own funeral 
sermon, under great mental strain, when I was not 
dead; the services were conducted by the Rev. C. T. 
During the services, Mr. M. H, (who was then a me- 
dium) son of Mr. E. H, at the weir, came to the back 
door, and said he had come to do an errand for the 
spirits, and that I was not dead, and would come out 
of my trance that day; my husband told him he intend- 
ed to have no mistake, and would keep me until he 
was satisfied of my death. 

The services continued, and as the minister was 
nearly through, and had just finishd the words: "the 



42 MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 

Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away," my middle 
finger moved, and then my right hand, — which held a 
small bouquet of flowers, which was immediately seen 
by my husband, who sat where he could notice the 
least movement of my body and he at once came to the 
bedside, followed by Dr. IN", and they saw there was 
some life; my hand was raised, and I opened my eyes, 
but could not speak; the services were over, and my 
friends came to the bedside, but I was not entirely 
conscious, so as to notice them ; I gradually came out 
of the trance, and seemed but a short time to me that 
I had been entranced, and I asked my husband what 
time it was. Dr. N came to me and said: you have 
had quite a sleep Mrs. Packer ! I replied: yes! I feel 
quite refreshed. My brain gradually became clearer, 
and the next morning I was taken possession of by an 
Indian spirit, who warned them to give me nothing to 
eat for several days, but a table-spoonful of weak beef 
tea, several times a day, until my stomach regained its 
strength, and he would doctor and bring me out in 
good health, he said he would be my principal guide, 
and I would now be a "Clairvoyant Physician," under 
his control; he said his name was "Joe Dickalo," and 
he was once chief of the Mohawk tribo of red men. 
After the influence had gone, my husband said: Jane ! 
you have had a long sleep ! do you know how long you 



MT LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 43 

have been entranced ? I said: only a few hours I guess ! 
he then informed me, and I could not believe it, and 
did not for a long time, till the doctor and my friends 
convinced me; I grew stronger day after day, and in a 
short time was up and about the house, and I found I 
was stronger and better then I had been for several 
years, and I also had the use of my right arm and 
hand, which I had lost the use of before; I took no 
medicine of any kind, but while I was about the house 
my mouth at times would have a very bitter taste, and 
so strong sometimes, that I would resort to sugar to al- 
lay the taste, and rinse my mouth with water; the in 
fluence informed us they were doctoring me them- 
selves with chemical medicines, which caused the bit- 
ter taste in my mouth regularly each day; I continued 
to improve and in a few weeks, I was in perfect health 



4:4: MY LIFE AND SPIEITUAL EXPERIENCES. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

A CLAIRVOYANT PHYSICIAN. LOOKING FOR FRAUD. 
TRYING TO FOOL THE INFLUENCE. 

I was now developed as a physician, and this Indian 
influence has had exclusive control of me for doctoring, 
for the past thirty-five years; I have doctored people 
in all parts of the World by lock of hair, of almost every 
known disease, and hundreds of my patients who are 
living to-day, will remember the wonderful cures made 
by me in cases where they were given up by their phy- 
sicians as incurable; I have taken hundreds of poor 
suffering people almost from their graves, not for com- 
pensation always, but without consideration in hun- 
dreds of cases, and in many cases given them the mon 
ey to pay for their medicine; during my thirty- five 
years practice, I have never lost a case under my care, 
that was pronounced curable by my influence, and his 
instructions were followed— a reputation seldom equal- 
ed by physicians outside of clairvoyance. I give some 
of my remarkable cures, through the remainder of the 



MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 45 

book; my cures and remarkable tests, gave me a wide 
reputation, and I was called upon by many out of cu- 
riosity, and by those who thought they knew it all, but 
they found and met with someone who knew more then 
they had calculated on. 

One very stormy night about eleven o'clock, two 
gentlemen called, and upon my husband going to the 
door was asked if they could have a sitting ? they said 
it was for sickness, and they had come a long distance 
I had just retired, but consented to give them a sitting 
and they were ushered into the parlor; I dressed, and 
stepping into the parlor, closed the door, leaving my 
husband in the other room; upon the influence taking 
me he said: the best thing for them to do, was to turn 
their horse's head towards home, but in regard to the 
horse hair one had in his pocket, he could examing his 
horse with it there without taking it out; you came in 
here to see if you could fool the medie, in the shape of 
some horse-hair cut from your horse's mane, to exam- 
ine your wife and so catch her, and call her a fraud, 
but you cannot do it, as she has been tried and tested 
and cannot be deceived; I will though examine your 
horse first, which he did, giving his lameness, and oth- 
er difficulties, which they said was correct; he then ex- 
amined the wife of one of the gentlemen, giving her 
complaints, which was also acknowledged by the gen- 



46 MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 

tleman; now if you wish to bring your wife to be doc- 
tore* 1, I can do her good if she follows my trail; and 
now that you have come here at this time of night and 
taken the squaw from her bed, expecting to have a lit- 
tle fun with her, you have been mistaken, and I de- 
mand the sum of five dollars for her, for this sitting; 
they both laughed, and said that they would not listen 
to such a price; the influence said: you will pay that 
price, or y6u will not leave this house until you do, and 
backed me against the door; if you had come in here 
as gentlemen seeking for truth honestly, as she expect- 
ed, instead of looking upon her as a fraud, you would 
have had the sitting at the usual price, and when peo- 
try to fool her, or are looking for fraud, they will find 
they are deceiving themselves, and should be in better 
business. My husband thinking it about time to stop 
proceedings^ came into the room and ii ormed them 
it was no use for them to deceive the influence, as they 
could not do it, as he knew whereof he spoke, and they 
hid better settle as he desired them to, or they would 
have to take a regular Indian thrashing; when people 
come here honestly, for truth, they will receive it every 
time. The gentlemen at last acknowledged their er- 
ror, and that they had been used justly and were sat- 
isfied, and the money was paid. Upon their departure 
my husband told the gentleman whose wife was sick, 



MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 47 

to come and get a prescription the next day, or bring 
his wife with him, and there would be no charge ; the 
next day the gentleman called with his wife, whose case 
I took, and entirely cured her of ailments she had been 
suffering with for years, and could find no relief; these 
parties are living to verify this affair. 

One evening about nine o'clock, I was called to the 
door, and a gentleman (Rev. Mr. E. ) asked if he could 
have a sitting? I replied that he could, ushering him 
into the parlor ; I noticed he wore a butcher's frock and 
of course supposed he was connected with the meat 
business, and had come for a sitting for sickness, or 
on business; the influence upon coming said: how do 
you do Reverend Divine ? your butcher's frock which 
you wear as a blind, is very good for the night, as it is 
quite cool out, and you are rather frail and delicate be- 
ing shut up so much; you are only fit for a travelling 
man, as being in the open air will do you good, and 
build you up, and you ought to give up your preach- 
ing and take an outside position, and you will live very 
much longer; you are no butcher or any way connect- 
ed with that business; this frock is only a blind, but 
no blind to me. The Reverend gentleman then said: 
how do you know I am a minister ? the influence said: 
how do I know ? I can see same as you can, but I 
have the advantage of you, as you cannot see me; I am 



48 MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 

a spirit the same as you are, only you are in the ma- 
terial body the same as I was once, and I can see as 
well as I ever could and there was a bet made by parties 
connected with you, that this squaw was a fraud, and 
you came to investigate for them; he then owned and 
acknowledged it, and received some advice which he 
accepted and followed, and is living to-day, but is not 
following his profession as a minister. These two in- 
stances are taken from several hundred similar, to show 
where parties have come to try to fool me, and looking 
for fraud, but they received their lesson and ample evi- 
dence that they were not so smart, but what there was 
others equal to them although unseen. 



MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 49 



CHAPTEK IX. 

TAKING ON DISEASES. MAGNETIZED MEDICINES. REMARK- 
ABLE CURES, -METAL POISONING-THE LIZARD. 

After liviug in this locality for about six years, we 
moved into Mr. Church's house on Somerset Avenue, 
where we lived for ten years, and I devoted all my time 
outside of my household duties, to doctoring, curing 
hundreds of people in all parts of this country and For- 
eign countries, and restoring them to health and hap- 
piness after failing in all other methods, and given up 
by physicians. I continued my free meetings to all 
who desired to investigate, and my services always at 
the disposal of the sick; my power over diseases was 
so strong, and I so sensitive, and in sympathy with 
my patients, that I would take the disease of my pa- 
tients when they were to call on me; their name would 
be given to me, and when they were coming, (same as 
when a child,) and would have the disease when they 
arrived whatever it might be ; I would be taken with 
cramps in the stomach, would be lame, would be taken 



50 MY LIFE AND SPIKITUAL EXPERIENCES. 

with a violent cough, have the rheumatism, swelling of 
the face and limbs, pains in my chest or back, sick 
headache, and every disease that any of my patients 
had when coming to me; the disease would stay with 
me until the patient had been examined and then it 
would gradually leave me until it had entirely disap- 
peared 

For about five years in connection with my root and 
herb prescriptions, the influence would make through 
me, magnetized or chemical medicines for some pa- 
tients, out of pure cold water by holding one finger in 
the glass containing the water, or covering it with my 
hand, each medicine for different diseases, would be 
entirely different in taste and smell, and adapted to 
each disease it was made for. I will now give a brief 
account of some of my remarkable cures, which are 
taken from hundreds of similar ones, and most of the 
cases I give, are at home or immediate vicinity, where 
they can be easily investigated by any desiring to do so. 

The first case I will relate is that of Mr. G, of Rayn- 
ham, Mass. A gentleman called on me one evening, 
and desired me to go with him to examine a very sick 
man at Raynham, and that he had a hack at the door 
to convey me their; after riding for a distance of about 
three miles we reached our destination and I was taken 
into the presence of the sick man, supposing of course 



MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 51 

there would be no other physician present, but [ was 
surprised to find two hiding in the house to hear my 
examination, and as they thought, without my know- 
ing they were there, but my influence could not be de- 
ceived as will be seen ; after I bad got myself sufficient- • 
ly rested, I took a seat at the bedside and was shortly 
entranced, and upon the influence taking possession, 
the first thing he desired, was for the two physicians 
Drs. B, and S, who were secreted in an adjoining room 
to come into the room and listen to what he had to say 
as he would give no examination until they did; after 
seeing that no diagnosis would be given, they came 
into the room, and no doubt was surprised at the re- 
verse of affairs, but if they had had the least idea of 
the science of clairvoyance, they would have known it 
was impossible to have been in the house without de- 
tection. Upon their taking seats, my influence inform- 
ed them they had a very wrong idea of the case before 
them; the patient he said had what he called "pepper 
bags" or commonly called "gall-stones" on the liver, 
and four of them laid there, and must be removed at 
once to save his life; the physicians laughed at the ex- 
amination, and the influence informed them that he 
intended to remove and show them, as proof of his 
statement before the medium started for home ; he then 
gave a prescription for the ingredients he desired, and 



52 MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 

a person sent to the city for them, and on his return, 
the influence took the herbs, and prepared his own 
medicine — while I was entraced, and unconscious, and 
administered it to the patient at intervals, and they 
waited results, which was to satisfy them, and before 
I come out of my trance, the influence had his four 
1 'pepper bags" in a bowl, and the physicians had the 
proof; he then gave instructions in regard to the med- 
icine and nourishment, and said in four days, he would 
be out hoeing in his garden, which proved to be so; I 
was then carried home, and in a few days received a 
call from my patient. 

One night about twelve o'clock, I arose from bed 
and dressed myself while entranced, and leaving the 
house, started for the road to Berkley below the Weir 
and called to the residence of Mr. M, where a child lay 
very sick and almost dead, (which I knew nothing a- 
bout,) and the influence asked for admittance, and in- 
forming them lie had come to cure their child, and 
they immediately opened the door thinking it was the 
doctor, but was surprised when they saw who it was; 
the influence went to the cradle where the child laid, 
and took it up by the loot, head down, and after hold- 
ing it in that position several minutes and rubbing it 
towards the head, laid it down again and after making 
passes over it and more rubbing, he informed them the 



MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 53 

child would live, and the trouble was, the disease had 
gone to the brain and wanted more blood to circulate 
through, and nourish it, and at the same time he had 
given vitality and strength to the blood, and the child 
would improve at once, and bidding them good night, 
started for home; my husband had started after me and 
caught sight of me near the Weir bridge, and followed 
me until I came to several cross roads where he lost 
sight of me. I went over the ground so swiftly, and he 
then went back to the bridge and waited for my return 
where he met me still under control and returned home ; 
this child is now living. 

One. of greatest cures by lock of hair, was that of a 
Priest in Dublin, Ireland, after having been given up 
by his physicians and pronounced incurable; he was 
informed of me by Mr. R, of this city, who went on a 
voyage to Ireland for his health, and the Priest wrote 
to me, enclosing a lock of his hair for examination, and 
asking if I was white or colored ; I sent him an exami- 
nation and also a prescription, and wrote him that I 
was white, but my doctor (influence) was an Indian, 
but he did not understand this science then; he con- 
tinued doctoring with me, and in due time I restored 
him to perfect health again, for which he was ever 
grateful for, and if he ever came to America, he would 
call on the savior of his life. The gentleman who sailed 



54 MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 

to Ireland for his health, was advised by the influence 
not to go, as he would not live to see this land again, 
the journey would be too much for him in his state of 
health, but he did not heed the advice, and died on his 
return trip before reaching this country; he saved a life 
but lost his own. 

Another case is that of Mr. N, who was given up by 
all the physicians who were called to his case, — to die, 
pronouncing his disease as consumption; he had hem- 
orrhages of blood, and was in a very critical condition, 
and was advised to take a trip to Europe which was the 
only way they saw to save his life. One day he inform- 
ed his wife he was going to see Mrs. Packer at the 
Weir, but he had no faith, or believed in clairvoyance, 
but he had no means to go abroad, and he would go to 
her as the last resort and out of curiosity, and see 
what she would tell him. He called on me and asked 
for a sitting; upon the influence coming he said: "well 
brave ! the doctors have given you up, haven't they" ? 
well I cannot cure you if you remain in the shop, to 
work, as you would be adding to the disease, what 1 
want to get out of your system, which is metal poison, 
which you have taken into your system, working over 
britannia and silver metals, and was not consumption, 
as pronounced by the physicians; he informed him he 
could cure him if he followed his instructions, which, 



MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 55 

the gentleman promised to do, and the influence then 
gave him a prescription with instructions, and some 
other valuable infomation which surprised him, and he 
was pleased with the examination, and the knowledge 
he had gained, from his visit out of curiosity. The 
influence informed him he had a rich uncle in Dorches- 
ter, Mass. , who would pass away in a few years, and 
leave his business to him; the gentleman was surprised 
that he should take charge of the business, as he knew 
nothing about it; he was told to go there on a visit with 
his family, as soon as he had regained his strength 
and his uncle would give him a situation in the busi- 
ness, which would be left to him upon his uncle's death 
After he had sufficiently regained his health, he went 
with his family on a visit to his uncle's, who upon 
learning the condition of his health, and not wishing 
to work at his trade, took him into his business, as the 
influence had stated ; the gentleman came home after 
a short time to move his goods, and called on me for 
further treatment, and to verify the tests given him, 
and after a thorough course of medicine, the influence 
pronounced him well and he was much pleased with his 
visit to a clairvoyant physician. He moved to his new 
place of residence, and upon the death of his uncle, 
which occured two years after, the business was left to 
him; he called on me a few years ago, and I did not 



56 MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 

recognize him. as he had improved so, from changing 
his business, and in all probability clairvoyance saved 
his life; he brought his child, two years old, with him 
to be examined, being given up by other physicians 
in Boston; the child was very low, the disease being 
''Cholera Infantum." I took the case and cured her, 
and she is now a young lady, and the parties can be 
found in Dorchester, Mass., if any one desires to inves- 
tigate these cures, by calling on me and obtaining their 
address, or any other cases given in this book, to test 
the truth of them. 

Another singular case I had, was that of a child 
which was brought to me to be examined, by Mrs. C, 
of New Bedford, Mass., who said the doctors could do 
nothing for her, and I had been recommended to her 
She said the doctors called it "spasms of the stomach" 
but they did not seem to help her any ; she would have 
lumps in her throat, and be very distressed at times in 
the stomach, which would be relieved some by eating; 
I went to sleep for the lady, and upon the influence 
coming informed her that the child's stomach contained 
a "lizard," which was of quite a large size, and must 
be removed at once, before it grew any larger, or it 
would kill her; when the stomach is empty, the lizard 
comes up in the throat after something to eat, and the 
only W}»y to remove it, is to starve the child as much 



MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 57 

as possible, until it comes up and partly out of her 
throat, when you can secure it; but it will choke her to 
death said the lady; well! she cannot live very long 
with it in her stomach, and that is the only chance you 
have to save the child's life, said the influence; and do 
you remember of taking the child to drink out of a 
spring or brook in the fields, while you were in the 
country a few years ago? she replied that she did; 
well ! she swallowed this lizard in the water, when 
it was very, very small, and it has lived upon what it 
could get from the food and liquids she took; now you 
will have to starve the child as near as you can, in or- 
der to force the lizard up after food, then have some 
milk in a bowl, which must be covered with black, or 
some other dark cloth, also the hands, then hold the 
bowl of milk close to the child's lips, standing behind 
her, and it will lap at it with its tongue; when it has 
forced itself into the throat so that it cannot get ba<k, 
immediately catch hold of it with something, and draw 
it out quickly. The lady seemed pleased with the ex- 
amination, and perhaps doubted it some, but the in- 
structions were followed, and I was informed after sev 
eral days, that the lizard forced its way into the throat 
until it almost choked the child, and laped at the bowl 
when it was caught with a pair of nippers and quickly 
drawn out, and was afterwards placed in a bottle of 



58 MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 

water to be seen by any who desired to examine it; it 
was a surprise to the family, and to the physicians. 
This is another case to prove that clairvoyance is su- 
perior to symptoms to diagnos diseases, and if physi- 
cians would be more liberal in clairvoyance, in many 
critical cases they would positively know what disease 
they were handling, and what progress it had made in 
the system, and we would hear of less deaths, as there 
would be more cures. I have examined a great many 
severe cases for physicians and my influence has given 
them information in a number of cases whereby they 
have saved the lives of their patients by reversing the 
medicines, which otherwise, I positively know they 
would have lost. There are hundreds of people die 
annually, whose lives I think could be saved, or length- 
ened, by consultation through clairvoyance, but either 
through ignorance of this wonderful agency, bigotry, 
or superstition, this great power has not been openly 
accepted in this class of profession, but it is fast pro- 
gressing, and will force itself to be recognized univer- 
sally. 



MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 59 



CHAPTEE X. 

RAPPLNGS IN CHURCH. OUR NEW HOME. MORE CURES. 
DEATH OF MY HUSBAND. 

While residing here, an incident occured, which is 
quite amusing: I attended a meeting one Sunday eve- 
ning, at the old Baptist church, on Spring street; the 
Rev/Mr. M, was then pastor of the society; during 
the services, there was rapping on the pew near me, 
and on my hat; the pastor stopped in his discourse and 
said: if there are any of the boys in the audience making 
mischief, I wish they would please leave the meeting; 
after a few minutes he proceeded with his sermon, 
and during his remarks some little time later, he spoke 
in a way which the spirits that were present, did not 
seem to take favorably to, as the rapping became very 
loud in different parts of the church, on the pulpit and 
pews, on the walls, and rapped out "Yankee Doodle" 
on the top of my hat, very plainly; the pastor looked 
rather surprised, and again stopping, asked the choir 
to sing, which did not subdue the raps, which were 



¥ 



MT LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 



very prominent and plainly heard by all present ; after 
the choir had finished singing, the pastor arose and 
said, rather decidedly: if there is a medium present, I 
wish she would withdraw from the meeting; I sat a 
short time after he continued his sermon, when I was 
suddenly entranced by an influence, who took me out 
of the church, and to my house at the Weir by a dark 
lonely road, and knew nothing of what transpired until 
I come out of my trance, when I found myself in bed; 
when my husband came home, I told him of my eve- 
ning's experience; he said he called at the church for 
me, and was told by someone who knew me, that I Lad 
gone some time ago. 

During the tenth year of our residing here, the influ- 
ence informed my husband that our next move would 
be into our own house, to which my husband laughed, 
and said that he had no spare money to buUd a house , 
much less to buy the land; the influence said: never 
mind chief, you will move into your own house on the 
fifteenth day of next June, — I shall send you a cus- 
tomer, which will start your house; my husband did 
not think anything more about it, but one day about 
a week after this, Mr. C. S, called at my husband's 
shop and asked him if he wanted to buy a lot, and build 
a house of his own? my husband laughed, and said he 
could not afford it ! yes you can said Mr. S, I want a 



MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 61 

pair of nice harnesses made, and we will arrange things 
satisfactory between us, and I have a lot that will just 
suit you, come up with me and see it; my husband left 
his work and went up with him to see the lot, and 
on returning to the shop, they made a trade; when my 
husband came home at noon, he said: mother ! I have 
bought a house lot; what do you think of "Joe" now ? 
he has got me into a scrape; I said: he will not get 
you into any scrape but what he can get you out all 
right. In two months from that time, he had the lot 
paid for and the house started, which was completed on 
the fourteenth of June, and we moved into it the next 
day, the fifteenth, as the influence had stated. 

In about two years, my youngest son, Edward went 
to sea on a vessel from the Weir, under the command 
t>f Captain P; while on the voyage, he fell on the deck 
and injured his knee, and the doctor on the vessel said 
it would cause a leakage of the knee-pan, and he did 
not think he would ever get over it; Upon his arrival 
at the Weir, when the vessel came in, he stopped at 
Dr. S's, office on his way home, who after looking at 
it, said it would result in a knee leakage, and he could 
not do much for it; my son came home and asked me 
to let "Joe" come; after the influence had taken me, 
he examined the injured knee, and said it was bruised 
blood between the first and second skins, and to tell 



62 MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 

the doctor to lance it only through the first skin, and 
no further — or borrow the lance and I will do it myself 
my husband with my son, called on Dr. S, and told 
him what the influence said ; yes ! that is some of your 
"go to sleep woman's'' talk, I don't believe in her, and 
would not lance it under any consideration, — unless 
you will guarantee to take all the responsibility; my 
husband said he would take all the risk and chances 
in lancing it, as he could rely on his informant's in- 
structions, as he had tested him to his own satisfaction, 
and that he had never failed him yet; upon my hus- 
band taking the responsibility upon himself, the doctor 
lanced it according to instructions, and about a teacup- 
ful of bruised blood came from the wound, and the 
doctor looked surprised, and said he was conquered ; 
the wound commenced to heal at once, and in about 
three weeks it was entirely well ; we never heard any- 
thing more from the doctor, that he did not believe in 
the "go to sleep woman," but when-ever he met my hus- 
band, he would ask about the phenomena and was in- 
terested in it after this case. 

About this time, a lady Mrs. G, gave birth to twins, 
a boy and girl, and soon after, they were both taken 
with spasms; the attending physician, Dr. B, exhaust- 
ed his skill, without being successful in stopping them 
and I was called to go and look at them, and see if I 



MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 63 

coulcl stop the spasms; I went to the house, and upon 
being entranced, the influence immediately went to 
work on them, taking each one and rubbing it, blowing 
on its chest and bottom of the feet, and they were then 
placed in quiet repose; these children never had an- 
other spasm, and the doctor acknowledged afterwards 
that it was nothing but a miracle; both of these chil- 
dren are living, and also their parents, to verify this 
case. 

A physician of this City, Dr. A, attended a patient 
who had a severe sore, and while dressing it, he inoc- 
ulated his hand where he had a scratch, which worked 
into his blood and caused "blood poisoning" and after 
a time it settled in his eyes ; after trying to relieve 
himself and not being successful, he called on Dr. 8, 
who also could not seem to cure him, but said he knew 
of a clairvoyant physician, Mrs. Packer, whom he 
thought could cure his eyes; Dr. A said : T do not care 
to go there myself, but she is a fine lady, and respect- 
ed; would you procure a prescription for me ? Dr. S in- 
formed him he would, and he came and had a sitting, 
and took a prescription, and made the medicine, which 
was given to Dr. A, and it helped him at once, and he 
found relief at last; Dr. S informed rae who the pre- 
scription was for, and I accepted no pay for the sitting. 
Dr. A. has since died, (about four years ago,) and at a 



64 MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 

materializing seance in my own house, (Mrs. Fay of 
Boston, Mass., being the medium,) the doctor appear- 
ed and talked with me, and was also recognized by two 
other gentlemen present, one being a physician; Dr. A 
said: I have come to thank you ! do you know me ? I 
replied that I thought I recognized his features some, 
and had probably seen him somewhere when in the 
body, but could not remember then; well ! I am Dr. A 
and you sent me a prescription once, for my eyes, when 
I had "blood poisoning," — and without charge; God 
"bless you ! your worth is not known, — except by those 
who patronize you, and they receive what they seek for 
and if I knew then, what I know now, I should not 
have been afraid to come and seen you myself, at the 
time, and I wish all physicians could realize what a 
great truth and knowledge they have in clairvoyance, 
and spirit communion, to help them in their work of 
curing the sick and suffering of earth, and with these 
great powers they could prolong and save life. 
You saw me in Rail Road Hall, at a meeting where I 
was speaking, before you prescribed for me, and I was 
speaking of infidels, and you left the hall; this was 
true, I supposing he had reference also to spiritualists. 
The doctor then walked out into the room, and was 
recognized also by the above two gentlemen. 

I will now relate a case which I could have cured, 



MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 65 

but my influence gave it up, because be found a physi- 
cian who knew more then he did, or thought he did, 
but lost the case; my influence informing the physician 
the day his patient would die, which proved to be so. 
A lady Mrs. S, residing near us, called in one day, 
and asked me to go to Somerville, Mass., with her and 
examine her brother, who was very sick, and the doc- 
tors could not seem to help him ; the next morning we 
started for Somerville, and upon arriving at the house 
we found a physician, Dr. C, there, and I was intro 
duced to him, and after a while I gave way to my in- 
fluence and upon his coming, he informed them that 
what he had to say, would not do the patient any good 
to hear, and he would give his examination in another 
room ; the patient who had overheard the conversation, 
there upon said: I will listen to whatever you have 
to say, so please give your examination in the room 
where you are— which was adjoining the one where the 
sick man was; the influence then said to the physician: 
do you know what you are doctoring ? he said he un- 
derstood the case he thought; well ! what are you going 
to do with that plaster you are making down stairs ? 
the physician there upon took hold of my wrist to feel 
of the pulse; did you expect to find a dead woman here 
sir? said the influence, rather amused; you find we 
keep up a good circulation, don't you ? now this patient 



66 MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 

has a cancer in his side; the physician began to laugh 
and said I (my influence) was a fool, to tell him any 
such nonsense, and knew nothing about the case; the 
influence then asked the patient if he remembered of a 
bad scratch he received on the leg, from a nail in a bar- 
rel some time ago, which he was lifting at the store? 
the patient replied that he did ; well ! that nail caused 
a poisoning of the blood, to a certain degree, your blood 
being in a weak state, and settled in the form of a can- 
cer; the patent, and his friends there, did not believe 
the examination, but took the physicians decisions from 
symptoms, in preference to the influence's knowledge; 
the physician also disbelieved in the theory of a cancer 
and said that I did not understand the case any way, 
and did not know enough to examine a sick person; 
there-upon the influence feeling somewhat insulted, at 
such talk, resented it, and said: you can keep along 
with the case, I understand my business, and the case, 
and can see internally, but you will lose this case, and 
in six weeks from this time, the patient will be carried 
out of this house in his coffin; the physician made fun 
of the influence's prophecy, and after coming out of my 
trance, he used me very coolly. My friend and myself 
left for home, and on the way, conversed about the sick 
man. and after arriving homo I thought no more about 
the affair, until my friend called in one day, some time 



MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 67 

afterwards, and said: you remember my brother we 
went to see some time ago at Somerville, Mrs. Packer ? 
I said yes, I had most forgotten it; well ! he is dead ! 
he died yesterday, and I have reckoned up the time 
pince we were there, and it is just six weeks yesterday, 
and it was found that he had a cancer, as you said. 
Some time after this, my friend's sister in-law came 
out from Somerville, to make her a visit, and one day 
while I was in the yard, my friend informed her sister 
that I was the lady who examined her husband ; her 
sister said: how true she told, I wish we had heard to 
her, but we would not believe it. We were quite well 
acquainted with each other afterwards, and the tests 
she received, satisfied her of the truth of "spirit return." 

While doctoring my patients, my prescriptions are 
carefully watched over by this ennuence, and I know 
at once if everything is not correct; In one of my pre- 
scriptions to a lady, an herb was left out, when being 
put up, and the patient was told of it when she came 
again, and upon inquiry, proved to be so, the parties 
being out of that herb. 

After residing in our new home for about three years 
my husband passed away; after being sick for nearly 
three months, the influence informed him one day, that 
he could not get well, and this was his last sickness, and 
he would come to the spirit world on the twenty-ninth 



68 MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 

day of March ; he was taken sick in December and was 
sick for four months; the day before he died, he asked 
for "Joe" the influence, and when he came, he asked 
him if he was sure he would pass out to-morrow ? the 
ifluence said: yes chief, I will be with my canoe at 
twenty minutes of four by the clock for you; my hus- 
band said, is that so ? well ! I will take your word then ; 
he thereupon made preparations for his funeral : in the 
morning when the butcher came in, he paid him his bill 
and bought the dinner for the friends who were to stay 
at the house after the funeral; he then ordered the 
hearse, hacks, etc., and counted out the money to pay 
all of the expenses; he then selected his speaker, Miss 
M. S., a spiritual lecturer, who was then in Philadelphia 
at the anniversary of the spiritual society, and she was 
telegraphed for, and to come the day after the anniver- 
sary. In the fore part of the next day, my husband 
asked me to light up the parlor, as all his spirit friends 
were present waiting for him, and said: "spiritualism is 
indeed true." In the afternoon, two of his old friends 
Mr. F, and Mr. S, came in to see him, when he inform- 
ed them he should pass out, as the influence had said ; 
one of them thereupon remarked: Mr. Packer ! you are 
dying a death that very few do; what is that, asked my 
husband ? a perfectly honest man, was the reply; do I 
owe either of you anything, he asked ? they said no. 



MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 69 

These were his last words, and he raised the curtain to 
look out, and died. Mr. F looked at his watch, and 
said: it is just twenty minutes of four. My husband 
died on the day the influence informed him he would, 
March 29th, 1876, at the age of fifty- two years, and 
died a firm believer in spiritualism. 



CHAPTEK XI. 

DEATH OF WILLIE. EDDIE AT SEA,-FALLING 
FROM THE MAST. 

About three years after my husband's death, anoth- 
er of my family passed away, my oldest son William, 
December 13th, 1879, at the age of twenty-nine years; 
a few days before he died, he said to me: mother! I 
shall die a spiritualist the same as father, as a religion 
and a science with teachings so beautiful, and that will 
do so much good to the world through you, must be a 
truth, which father proved for himself and was satisfied 
and such a religious man as he was, who thought every- 
thing of his church, would never have given up his doc- 
trine, and accepted spiritualism, without a knowledge 
that he was right, and in the path that leads to truth 



70 MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 

and progression. After my son's death, I continued 
my meetings, and upon my youngest son going away 
on another voyage to sea, I let one-half of my house. 
Some time after my son had gone on his voyage, I 
was lying sick in bed one day, while a friend, Mr. D 
sat near the bedside, when I suddenly gave a scream, 
and told my friend that my son Eddie, had just fallen 
from the mast, into the hold of the vessel; my friend 
tried to console me, and said perhaps it was not so, but 
I knew that it had just happened, and I saw him fall 
very distinctly, and my influence informed me about it 
afterwards, and that he would live two years; in about 
four days, I received a telegram from captain P, stat- 
ing that my son had fell from the mast into the hold, 
and had been unconscious for several days, but was 
better, and would come home as soon as they arrived 
at a port where he could take the cars; he came home 
in about a week, and stayed until he had recovered 
from his fall, and then on the arrival of the vessel, he 
shipped again, and went on several short voyages, and 
then joined the navy for a while, and then came home 
to stay with me, as his health began to fail, and he se- 
cured work with Mr. P, a mason. 



MY LIFE AND SPIEITUAL EXPERIENCES. 71 



CHAPTEE XII. 

THE SPIRITUAL HEARSE AND HACKS. DEATH OF 
EDDIE-PREDICTED. 

One evening about two months after my son went to 
work, we were returning home from the city quite late, 
and on reaching what was then known as the back road 
to the Weir, (now Somerset Avenue,) there suddenly 
appeared, a little in advance of us, a hearse drawn by 
two black horses, and two hacks, each drawn by two 
white horses; the wheels seemed to be muffled and 
glided along without noise, as if they floated over the 
ground; I noticed the apparition first, and called my 
son's attention to it, he seeing it as plainly as myself; 
after it had been in sight for a few minutes, it sudden- 
ly vanished, as quickly as it had appeared, and neither 
of us saw it again for some time ; I said to my son: this 
is a spiritual manifestation, and then I was impressed 
that it was a warning of another death in my family ; 
whatever my son's thoughts were, he kept to himself, 
but no doubt took it as a warning of his own death, as 



72 MY LIFE AND 8PIKITUAL EXPERIENCES. 

he predicted it and engaged his speaker for the funer- 
al, as will be seen. When we arrived at the corner of 
Second street, the apparition again appeared, and si- 
lently moved along in advance of us, turning down 
Charles street, where we lived, and upon reaching our 
house, it stopped, and then quickly vanished again ; 
this was one of the most singular manifestations I ever 
witnessed, it was so natural; the phenomena was also 
witnessed at the time by several other persons, who 
verified it the next day, and an account of it was pub- 
lished in our city papers, the next day, and was known 
as the "Spiritual Hearse and Hacks." 

One day about two weeks after this affair, my son 
came home from work, and said: mother! feel of my 
ears and see if they are all right ! he then complained 
of his hands being numb, and of his head feeling queer 
and he looked rather purple in the face; he sat down 
to dinner, but he could not hold on to his knife and 
fork very well, hut before he had finished eating, he fell 
out of Ins chair, under the table; I got him up and in- 
to bed, and the next day he seemed better; and was up 
about the house; the influence informed me that he had 
a shock, and it proceeded from his fall, he striking part- 
ly on his head, and he would live about two weeks; he 
gradually grew better, and one Sunday evening he at- 
tended a lecture with me, given by Miss. J. R., of Bos- 



MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 73 

ton, Mass. After the lecture, my son went up to the 
platform and spoke to the lady, and asked her if she 
would conduct his funeral services the following Wed- 
nesday; she was somewhat surprised, but informed 
him she would do so; strange as it may seem, my son 
died on Monday, March 21st, 1882, at the age of thirty 
three years, his funeral was on the following Wednes- 
day, and Miss R conducted the services, as promised, 
assisted by another, Dr. R, whom my son (as a spirit) 
engaged on the cars, under the following circumstances 

On Tuesday evening, about seven o'clock, Dr. R of 
Boston, Mass. , whom we were somewhat acquainted 
with, called on me, and said: I was just going through 
to Boston, from New Bedford where I lectured last 
evening, when your son (spirit) came to me on the cars 
and asked me if I would stop over and assist Miss R 
at his funeral; I told him I would with pleasure, and 
got off at the Taunton Branch Depot, and hear T am. 
He stayed at my house over night, and assisted at the 
funeral; when the hearse and hacks arrived at the 
house, they were drawn by two black and four white 
horses, respectively, as we had seen in the apparition, 
and when the order was given, it was only stated that 
a hearse and two hacks was wanted. 

After being left alone, I let my tenement, and then 
moved to Porter street, where I held my meetings to 



74 MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 

full rooms every Sunday evening. I was taken dan- 
gerously sick the following winter, with congestion of 
the lungs ; I was so weak that my influence could not 
control, so as to treat me, and I sent for two kind 
friends who sat on either side of the bed, and by tak- 
ing hold of their hands I received strength through 
their magnetism, so the influence could take possession 
of me, when he manipulated my chest, by rubbing and 
pounding it while I was unconscious; he then gave in- 
structions as to nourishment and care, and gave me 
a number of manipulations, and brought me out of my 
sickness in about two weeks, with full strength, and 
able to attend to my business ; I have been seriously 
sick a number of times, and always relied upon my in- 
fluence to cure me. In 1890, I purchased the house 
where I now reside, 48 Porter street; I am now sixt} T - 
nine years of age, and in very good health; I do all 
my own work, besides my doctoring; I have been near- 
ly blind for almost a year, but am regaining my sight 
again. During my life, I have done more good to the 
world and humanity then I have been given credit for; 
I have been called "fraud" the same as other mediums 
but always by a class of people who have little or no 
knowledge upon the subject of "clairvoyance" or "spirit 
return;" the truth and knowledge I receive, as a med- 
ium, I consider myself above accepting pay^for my ser- 



MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 75 

vices, unless I am "worthy of my hire," and when 
people come to me honestly, — not looking after fraud, 
but seeking after light and truth, they receive it. 

I have endeavored to make the contents of this book 
truthful, and so fear no criticisms; it shows my expe- 
riences with this phenomena, and what I have passed 
through from a child, and my mediumistic life; I have 
traveled in most all parts of the world with my brain, 
by my influence, visiting cities in this country and also 
Foreign countries for people, describing their homes, 
places of business, streets, buildings, business affairs 
etc., perfectly, and after nearly forty years experience 
with this phenomena, investigating it in my own home, 
with my family and friends, and passing through the 
severe ordeals I have in my life, I am what I must be, 
a spiritualist, as others who have found the light of 
truth, and a knowledge of the future existence of man- 
kind. 



76 MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

MATERIALIZATION. 

In the summers of 1889-90, I visited Onset Bay, 
Mass., and while there, I attended several materializ- 
ing seances; the mediums being Dr. A. W. S. Rother- 
mel, Mrs. C. B. Bliss, and Mrs. H. B. Fay; I have 
seen enough of materialization, to satisfy myself of its 
being a fact. In attending a seance at Dr. Rothermel's 
my influence, the Indian Chief, materialized and came 
from the cabinet and called me up to him; he then 
turned up the light so the room was perfectly bright; 
he then manipulated my arms, and at the time, I was 
affected with neuralgia in them, and no one present 
knew anything in regard to it. He called the other 
people who were present, up to see him, and stated 
that I was his medium, and that he had doctored 
through me for thirty-five years; he then saw a lady 
whom he said was one of his patients, and asked her to 
come up; there were two ladies sitting together, and 



MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 77 

one of them arose to come up, when my influence said: 
no ! not you ! the other squaw is my patient, I have doc- 
tored her from hair; he then told her who I was, and 
she said she had been doctoring with me by mail, as 
the influence had stated; I then asked the influence if 
he could bring my family ? he replied, that they were 
all there and he would try to help them; in a few min- 
utes I saw a white place on the floor, which gradually 
grew larger and higher, and then came the outlines of 
forms, and then I saw my husband, both sons, and 
daughter, and seemed covered with a large piece of 
lace; they could not obtain strength enough to talk, ex- 
cept my youngest son Eddie, who said: mother! they 
gradually dissolved and disappeared the same way they 
had come, and were soon gone. This manifestation 
was a beautiful sight, and others that were wonderful. 
Dr. Eothermel was a stranger to me, and knew noth- 
ing of my family or my control, and during the seance, 
the doctor was lying on the floor in the cabinet, under 
influence. At Mrs. Bliss's seance, my husband, my 
influence, and one son appeared; also Dr. N, who at- 
tended me at the time of my entrance state. At Mrs. 
H. B. Fay's seance, my husband, daughter, and son 
Eddie materialized, the latter appearing in full sailor 
costume, and went through the motion of pulling ropes 
as on a vessel. I have had all of these r mediums at my 



78 MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 

own house, and I am perfectly satisfied with the man- 
ifestations which took place, and can recommend them 
to the public. This beautiful and wonderful phenom- 
ena, is now engaging the attention of the scientific 
world, which it deserves. 



CHAPTER XIY. 

SPIRITUALISM. 

Spiritualism is a mighty power in the world to-day ! 
it is a demonstrated fact ! no person unacquainted with 
its beautiful truths, and teachings, can condemn it, or 
have any reason to do so; those who do refute its 
claims, condemn their own foundation of religion, — the 
Bible. Spiritualism is nothing new ! it has existed 
almost since the world was inhabited; it is a religion 
and a science, which demonstrates and proves for a fact 
the future existence of humanity after this life, and the 
communication between the two worlds with our spir- 
itual friends, —the so called dead, and is worthy of the 
closest investigation, which it solicits. Modern Spir- 
itualism is only history repeating itself; spiritualism 
gave knowledge to those who had the courage to inves- 
tigate; they were from the church, and its millions of 
adherents are from every denomination whose founda- 



MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 79 

tion rested on creeds, — faith; spiritualism rests upon 
a solid foundation— that of a knowledge of spiritual 
life, and proofs of communication with your departed 
friends; spiritualism cannot now be crushed, as it is 
forcing itself to be accepted throughout the world, and 
by the most learned men. and prominent ministers, be- 
cause its truths presented to the world, cannot be re- 
jected, and it is adding thousands of people every year 
to its millions of happy souls. Those who have called 
this the works of the devil, will see when they are edu- 
cated to its facts, that it is the works or law of God, 
and that he never gave the devil more power than he 
gave himself, — that is if he ever created one, but in 
this nineteenth century, the devil and his home is loos- 
ing his hold upon the intelligent and thinking people. 
Mediums are the instruments created for your use to 
commune with your friends in spirit life, like the tele- 
graph between two cities; these instruments lift the 
thin veil for you, that separates the celestial city that 
is .so closely connected with your world ; cast aside the 
feeling of mourning for your friends, and seek to make 
them and yourselves happier, by communing with 
them, and investigating this phenomena individually; 
ignorance and superstition is fast passing away; faith 
does not satisfy, and is falling before the great army of 
progression; the people are looking for knowledge on 



80 MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. 

this great problem of life, and Modern Spiritualism is 
here with you to stay, with its facts and proofs of im- 
mortality; this philosophy simply invites your in- 
vestigation, and holds out to the world, its beautiful 
truths and reality of life beyond the grave ; seek and 
you shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you; 
and those who have found the light, and the blessings 
of "spirit communion," can happily ask: 

"O death, where is thy sting; 

O grave, where is thy victory ?" 



RD-16 



LIFE 



AND - 



SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES, 



— OF 



TAUNTON, MASS. 
SWEET PUBLISHING COMPANY. 

1892. 



MRS. DR. JANE B. PACKER, 

Clairvoyant Physician, 

TAUNTON, MASS. 



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